1. An exploration of parenting needs in war and refugee situations
Aala El-Khani
Rachel Calam
Fiona Ulph
School of Psychological Sciences
The University of Manchester

2. The role of the family during displacement
Primary caregiver- ‘protective shield’ or further complicate war stress? (Elbedour et al, 1993)
Family cohesion is a significant predictor of refugee children’s mental health (Fazel et al 2012, Lancet)
Family violence is a strong predictor of change in a child’s mental health; improved family life working to protect and increased conflict associated with intrafamilial violence

3. Using family skills approaches
Family and parenting skills have a key role in improving children’s wellbeing now and in the future
Prevention of emotional and behavioural difficulties, drug misuse, violence and crime
Adapting to needs, cultures and contexts

4. Can this approach help displaced families?

5. Phase 1 Recruitment areas: Syria and Turkey
8 semi-structured interviews carried out exploring parents experience of parenting in war and refugee situations and focusing on what support families need/want
2 inside a refugee camp tent
6 inside a refugee camp school
8 mothers

6. Logistical collaboration with an NGO

7. Challenges in data collection
Following standard ethical guidelines in this situation greatly limited the sample size
Interviewer often only had contact with parents once due to the nature of the refugee camps
Very difficult to use a standard method of informing participants at least 24hrs before consent
Difficulties in accessing refugee camps
El-khani et al (2013). Ethical issues in research into conflict and displacement. The Lancet, 382,

8. Phase 2 Recruitment: Syria and Turkey 4 focus groups, with 19 mothers
Carried out inside parent tents
2 interviews with professional aid workers; One camp doctor and one project manager of an international NGO
Interviews were audio recorded

9. The parenting challenges of displaced families

10. Parenting challenges in refugee situations
Environmental specific challenges
Child specific challenges
Parent specific challenges

11. Environmental challenges
Camp/living condition stressors
“I don’t like them far, how do I know what they are doing? Everything is new here. How can I balance giving them freedom I know they need with keeping them safe? It’s very hard”
Barriers to accessing support
Lack of basic essential needs

12. Child specific challenges
Behaviour changes
“They are spitting and hitting and shouting and using bad words. Sometimes I can’t believe these are my children, we all say this. They are very bad now”
Emotional challenges and signs of trauma
“They cry at night, they scream a lot while they are sleeping. They are very angry. They have so many unanswered questions that I do not know how to answer”

13. Parent specific challenges
Loss of control
“I can not control anything around me. We are living each second unaware of what’s coming next. You asked me what it’s like to be a mum now, well this is it, it’s like we are not mums, we are just keeping kids alive by feeding them and making sure they are alive and safe”
Parents own emotional challenges
“I shout at him ‘enough! come on you must stop looking sad’. I know before you say that’s all wrong, what else can I do?”

14. Maladaptive discipline techniques
“I hate hitting them (children). I really hate it. Especially as they have been through a lot of hard things..I wish I knew how to be more in control of my feelings like I was before, to know how to do the right thing”

15. Key messages
There is a crucial need for family skills training to support parents/caregivers who are displaced due to war and conflict
Despite all the traumas of displacement, parents are motivated to be the best parents they can be
We need to identify cost-effective ways of delivering such programs to these displaced families